Tonstad
Encyclopedia
Tonstad is the administrative centre of the municipality of Sirdal
in Vest-Agder
, Norway
. In 2005, its population was 751. It is also a former municipality
that is located along the Sirdalsvatnet
in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Sirdal
.
: Þornýjarstaðir ), since the church is located there. The first element of the name comes from the female name Tone (Old Norse: Þorný) and the last element is staðir which means "homestead" or "farm
".
(population: 753). On 1 January 1960, Tonstad (population: 651) was merged together with Øvre Sirdal
and the Øksendal area of Bakke
to form a new municipality of Sirdal.
Sirdal
Sirdal is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Sirdal was separated from Bakke in 1849. Sirdal was divided into Tonstad and Øvre Sirdal on 1 January 1905, but these were again merged to recreate Sirdal on 1 January 1960....
in Vest-Agder
Vest-Agder
In the 16th century, Dutch merchant vessels began to visit ports in southern Norway to purchase salmon and other goods. Soon thereafter the export of timber began, as oak from southern Norway was exceptionally well suited for shipbuilding...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. In 2005, its population was 751. It is also a former municipality
Former municipalities of Norway
This is a list of former municipalities of Norway, i.e. municipalities that no longer exist.When the local council system was introduced in Norway in 1837-38, the country had 392 municipalities. In 1958 the number had grown to a total of 744 rural municipalities, 64 city municipalities as well as a...
that is located along the Sirdalsvatnet
Sirdalsvatnet
Sirdalsvatnet is a lake in the municipalities of Sirdal and Flekkefjord in Vest-Agder county, Norway....
in the southern part of the present-day municipality of Sirdal
Sirdal
Sirdal is a municipality in Vest-Agder county, Norway. Sirdal was separated from Bakke in 1849. Sirdal was divided into Tonstad and Øvre Sirdal on 1 January 1905, but these were again merged to recreate Sirdal on 1 January 1960....
.
Name
The municipality of Tonstad was named after the old Tonstad farm (Old NorseOld Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
: Þornýjarstaðir ), since the church is located there. The first element of the name comes from the female name Tone (Old Norse: Þorný) and the last element is staðir which means "homestead" or "farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
".
History
The municipality of Tonstad was established on 1 January 1905 when the old municipality of Sirdal was divided into two municipalities: Tonstad (population: 828) and Øvre SirdalØvre Sirdal
Øvre Sirdal is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Sirdal.-Name:...
(population: 753). On 1 January 1960, Tonstad (population: 651) was merged together with Øvre Sirdal
Øvre Sirdal
Øvre Sirdal is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located in the northern part of the present-day municipality of Sirdal.-Name:...
and the Øksendal area of Bakke
Bakke, Norway
Bakke is a former municipality in Vest-Agder county in Norway. It is located along the eastern shore of Lundevatn along the Rogaland county border.-History:...
to form a new municipality of Sirdal.